NEW YORK – The Prime Minister of Lesotho, Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane, has urged African leaders to invest in digital transformation as a pathway to sustainable development and inclusive growth.
Speaking yesterday at the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Africa Leaders Symposium hosted at the NASDAQ headquarters, Matekane said Africa’s digital future depends on cooperation, strong governance and innovation that benefits all citizens. The meeting was attended by heads of state, government officials, policy makers and international partners.
Matekane, who is currently chairing the African Union’s Specialized Technical Committee on Communications and Information Technology, said Lesotho has been at the forefront of shaping continental strategies on artificial intelligence and digital governance. He pointed to the development of the AU’s Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy and Africa’s position on the Global Digital Compact as examples of how smaller nations can lead in global policy-making.
He announced that Lesotho has joined the Smart Africa Alliance and will host AU member states and partners next month to validate the Digital Transformation Implementation Assessment Report. At home, he said, the government has introduced a National Digital Framework and is piloting digital infrastructure projects including digital ID systems, electronic payments and data management platforms.
Matekane noted that more than 95 percent of Lesotho’s population is already covered by terrestrial networks, with satellite services recently licensed to ensure near-universal coverage. However, he cautioned that high costs of devices and data remain a challenge for ordinary households, a problem that he said requires a continent-wide response.
He called for urgent investment in five areas: connectivity, artificial intelligence and data centres, energy infrastructure, digital skills for youth and entrepreneurs, and digital trade to fully unlock the potential of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.
“Africa’s future is digital and its strength lies in collective innovation,” Matekane told the gathering, stressing that no community should be excluded from the continent’s technological progress.
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